Wall grille



Aug. 25, 1936. F, M, YOUNG ET AL l 2,051,929

WALL GRILLE Filed Maron 12, 1954 2 sheets-sheet 1 UUUUUUVx/Uvx/UUUVVUVQVQVVUWUWWU L n l U11 F7676 Allg-125, 1936. I FfM. YOUNG ET AL2,051,929

WALL GRILLE Filed March l2, 1934 2 Sheets-'sheet 2 'HHHZZ i n 22/Nvf/vraes UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WALL GRILLE Fred M. Young andLeon M. Young, Racine, Wis.. assignors to Young Radiator Company,Racine,

Wis.

Application March 12, 1934, Serial No. 715,190

8 Claims.

'I'he object of our invention is: rst, to deliver the air from thegrille, fan like; second, to evenly spread the passage of air throughoutthe grille assembly; third, to reduce surface friction to a minimum;fourth, to prevent whistling or air interference noises; fth, to providea unit grille core assembly which may be easily fitted into any desiredtype of frame or housing; sixth, to provide a grille which is strong,light, inexpensive and pleasing in appearance; seventh, to provide agrille core assembly without the use of bolts or independent spacingparts; eighth, to provide a grille core which, when assembled in aholding jig, a convenient means is provided for bonding the assemblytogether; ninth, to provide a grille which can be assembled into anylength and adapted to any degree of air spread without changing the partfrom which the grille is made; tenth, to provide novel indentations onthe n edges and properly spaced to thereby give the assembly face apleasing appearance.

A further object of our invention is to provide a suitable housing for agrille of the class, having suitable air controlling means and meanswhereby the assembly is made without the u'se of bolts or screws and issimple, light and pleasing in appearance.

We accomplish these objects by means of a novel iin strip from which anumber of suitable spacing members are punched free and bent at rightangles as an integral part thereof, whereby when the fin strips areclosely spaced the spacing members will pass through the opening left bythe adjacent spacer and lay thereon, thus to present an easily bondedjoint and a thin surface which is positioned parallel to the directionof air ow, and whereby the n angle and spacings maybe variablypositioned whereby they may be made to suit any desired installation,and further by means of a novel housing wherein the dampers and theirsupports form a separate assembly which may readily be attached, afterthe n core has been placed into position and then act as a retainingmeans therefor.

To these and other useful ends our invention consists of matterhereinafter set forth and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawingsin which: A

Figure 1 is a fractional front elevation of our grille core structurehaving the fin strips in parallel relation both longitudinally andtransversely. y

Figure 2 is a front elevation of one of the fm strips with which theassembly is made.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the fin shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is'a fractional top elevation of our fin strip assembly orcore, showing the ends and a fraction of the center portion, wherein thefins are positioned at varying distances apart and at varying angles.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fractional top elevation showing the three left-hand end tins as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fractional top elevation showing ve of thecenter ns as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 7 ,is an enlarged fractional top elevation of the three righthand end fins as shown in Figure 4.

`Figure 8 is a front elevation of our improved grille as installed inour improved housing.

Figure 9 is a vertical section of the assembly 'taken on line 9 ofFigure 8. 1

Figure 10 is an end section taken on line Ill- III of Figure 9. y

Figure 11 is a rear fractional left end elevation of the assembly asshown in Figure 8.

Figure 12 is a. fractional section of the damper hin'ge which pivotallycarries the ends of the dampers. s

Figure 13 is a plan view of the friction washer used in the damperhinges.

Figure 14 isa section taken on line I4 of Figure 13.

As thus illustrated the core assembly comprises a multiplicity of finstrips I0, which are formed and assembled into a core in the followingmanner:

The strips ID are preferably made from narrow thin sheet steel strips ofa length for a suitable Width core. V shaped cuts are made in these nsin spaced apart relation, the freed portion being bent outwardly at aslightly less than right angle to the strip, as indicated in Figure 2,one edge of the cut being preferably parallel to the n edge thus leavinga right angle triangle opening II as clearly indicated in Figure 3, andproviding a projecting spacer element I2. Thus this spacer I2 has aright angle triangle shape, as clearly indicated in Figures 5 to 'Iinclusive.

I3 of the spacer is, as indicated, transverse to the n edges.

In Figure 3, we illustrate a 1in having six spacers, two of which areformed by cutting from the rear edge of the n, forming an opening IIb.One advantage in making use of this position in connection with openingII, is to add to the longitudinal bending strength of the grille.Anotherplan we contemplate, is to space the two openings II and IIbalternately.` We also contemplate using openings I Ib separately,whereby the strips may be assembled from the rear, edgewise; whereaswhen position I I only is used the f'lns must be inserted in theassembling jig sidewlse.

lIn order vto slightly stiften the nedges and present a pleasingappearance of the assembly, short narrow indentations I4 are formed onthe front edge of the fins and alternately positioned The base tothereby forma corrugation as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the corrugatededge thus formed is made to'converge from opposite sides into the bodyof the iin, the indentation at the iin edge only, forming a perfectcorrugation. They represent nearly half cones, the apexes of which endalternately on opposite surfaces of the fin; thus clearly, the passingair will be only very slightly retarded. l

The manner of positioning the fins in the preierred form of core asindicated in Figure 4, is as follows: the center strip of the assemblyis positioned at a transverseangle to the core and is designated inFigures 4 and 6, by numeral i. The iin strips are placed into positionon the left side of lila for example, one at a time until the desirednumber has been added. They are, however, held into spaced relation bymeans of a holding jig, whereby the rear space between ns is graduallyincreased and whereby the space between the front edges is graduallyincreased from iiill to the end, but this increase is made greater thanthe rear spacing increase whereby the end iinwill be positioned at anangle to thev center of about 42 degrees, or thereabout, as indicated inFigure 4. The fins for the right half of the core are similarlypositioned and held.

It will now be apparent why the openings il and spacers i2 are shapedand positioned as shown. The bottom of the openings Il are, lasindicated, adapted to receive the ends of the spacers of the adjacentfins. In the case of the center iins or when all of the ns are inparallel relation horizontally, the outer or rear edge portion of thespacers I2 will lie nearly parallel to this edge on the adjacent n, (seeFigure 6). However as the angle is increased these edges will part andassume different angles until at the end of the assembly the front edgesof the spacers will be nearly parallel as indicated in Figures 5 and 7.However it will be noted that the ns on the right side of |03 havenecessarily been bent in the opposite direction as indicated in Figures4, 6 and 7, to thereby provide for the opposite angle of these righthand iins. Otherwise the spacers on the right hand iins may be bent inthe same direction by simply reversing the cuts in the fins.

Obviously when the iins are to be assembled in transverse parallelrelation or nearly so, the spacers may be somewhat different in shape.For example, they may be cut triangular in shape wherein the base of thespacer would be at right angles to the fin edges and the apex would liein a central position or-nearly central position on the base of theadjacent spacer. Some slight change in angle would then be possible butto provide an angle of 40 or 45 degrees for the end ns, the spacersnecessarily must have a shape similar to that shown in Figures 4 to '7inclusive. If, however, all the ns are to be in transverse parallelrelation, the spacers may have parallel sides in which case variablespacing would be possible but all fins would necessarily be in paralleltransverse relation.

One of the principal advantages of our improved spacer is that the iinsmay be variously spaced apart so long as the contact between adjacentspacers is long enough to form an adequate bonding surface.

When our improved iin strips have been assembled and held into theirdesired relation one to the other, the assembly is positioned edgewiseas shown in Figure 3, so the spacers i2 are at the bottom of openingsli. A bar of bonding and the like.

material Hl, of a length equal to the core is positioned one in eachchannel formed by the openings ii. This bar I In will then lie on thespacers as indicated in Figure 3. Heat is then applied by meansof atorch or otherwise, whereby the 5 bar is melted and flows between thespacers which when cool will be firmly bonded together, after which theholding jig may be removed. 'I'hus we have provided by the use of ournovel iin strip a complete grille assembly, compact, l0 light, neat andat low cost, which will deliver the air as desired and present a minimumresistance to the air flow.

Because of surface friction air travels at greater speed in the centerof a tube or conveyor 15 than at the outer edge. It is equally true thatwith a common grille more air volume will be discharged at the center ofthe grille than at the ends. Applicants' gradually increased spacebetween iins from the center toward the ends will tend to coimteractthis tendency. However with applicants' device air may be delivered, fanlike, at evenly distributed speed or volume.

Obviously there are no abrupt bends nor wide surfaces to interfere witha free unobstructed airflow in applicants' grille. The air is graduallydiverted in narrow strata, therefore no eddy currents are created all ofwhich will increase the emciency of the grille and cause quietoperation.

One of the objects of the oppositely positioned indentations in the flnedge is to present a pleasing appearance at all angles of vision and tofade out the visibility of the gradually increased spaces between fins,thus the entire grille sur- 35 face will have a pleasing unbrokenappearance.

Obviously many. detail changes in the shape of the spacers, the shapeand position of the indentations and spacings of the iin strips may bemade without departing from the spirit of applicants' invention. Forexample the grille may be assembled into a. horizontally convex orconcave unit, to thereby be suitable for a curved wall Or the grille maybe made in a complete circle to thereby discharge the air in alldirections from a unit depending from the wall.

We will now describe our novel housing which is especially adapted tohold our core assembly, as illustrated in Figures 8 to 14 inclusive.

The main frame ofthe housing is designated by reference numeral 20. Thisframe is provided with suitably shaped side members or plates 2I-2I.These plates are preferably spot welded to the frame as indicated afterthe grille is 55 placed into position. The balance of the housingcomprising the ends and damper instrumentalities, whereby to regulatethe air ilow, is made up into a unit assembly and placed over the grilleand preferably spot welded to the frame 2D. The plates 2i are providedwith inwardly projecting edges 22, the purpose of which will appearlater. We provide novel means for air control as illustrated ln Figures9 to 14 inclusive wherein end members 23-23 are provided, hav- 65 ing aninwardly projecting oiset, which is adapted to form a recess for thegrille unit and also having rearwardly projecting ears 24. The endmembers 23 answer as a base upon which to mount the damper blades andtheir connections. These parts are all rst assembled into a unit andthen placed over the grille and made permanent by spot welding members23 to the frame 20.

The damper plates 25 at their ends are bent 75 at right angles formingprojections 26. At one side these projections are friction pivoted toears 24 by means of rivets 21. Between these pivoted parts, a curvedspring washer 30 is positioned. 'I'hus when the rivets 21 are properlyset the washer will be somewhat flattened, thereby to provide a frictionsurface which will yield to manual effort, but will not permit theposition of the damper to accidentally move out of a predeterminedposition. A parallel bar 28 is similarly friction pivoted to the otherend of projections 26 as at 29 as clearly indicated in Figure 10. Thusthe damper plates 25 will -be caused to pivotally operate on projections24 simultaneously.

Obviously when the damper plates 25 are moved to a closed position, theywill be in parallel alignment on the same plane and on the same plane asprojections 22. Projections 26 will also be aligned, thus to preventpassage of. air into the grille from the sides, ends or between thedamper plates. In Figures 9 to l1 inclusive, the damper plates are shownas in the wide open position or in a parallel position to the directionof air flow.

The washer 30 is preferably made from spring material and having a.single curve, as indicated in Figure 14, is superior to a cup shapedwasher and will continue to exert a fixed pressure on the joint for anindefinite period.

In wall grilles of this class it is desirable to provide means `wherebythe damper may 'be operated manually and whereby the position of thedamper is readily perceived. We provide a lever 32, the inner end ofwhich is bent at right angles forming a seat 33, which is suitablyattachedto one of the damper plates 25, as indicated whereby the levermay extend forwardly and upwardly through an opening in the assemblywhen the damper is open. By observing the position of this lever theattendant may readily determine the relative position of the damper. Oneof the advantages of applicants damper structure is that the blades areeach friction held at four points, thus the washers each need not bevery severe, but combined they will insure against accidental movementof the damper but may be easily moved manually.

Having thus shown and described our invention we claim:

1. A grille core comprising a multiplicity of closely spaced n stripseach having a number of spaced apart openings formed by cut freeportions which are bent out transversely and extend into adjacentopenings and overlap adjacent spacers thus forming a channel having acontinuous bridge formed by said spacers, a piece of solder the lengthof said channel positioned on said bridge and heat applied to therebybond said overlapping spacers.

2. A grille, comprising a multiplicity of closely spaced n strips eachhaving a number of spaced apart spacer portions cut free and bent outatright angles and extending through adjacent openings left by theadjacent spacer and overlapping the base of said adjacent spacers andbeing bonded thereto to thereby form a unitary grille core, the centerfin of said core positioned at right angles transverse to said core,said fins spaced apart at an ever increasing distance and divergingangles toward the ends, whereby air is discharged fan like from saidgrille.

3. A grille, having a greater length than width, comprising amultiplicity of closely spaced transversely positioned n strips andlongitudinal connecting means forming a rigid unitary structure, saidviin strips positioned at ever increasing diverging angles from thecenter n toward the ends spacer members which project through theopenings left in the adjacent iin, said spacers overlapping and bondedtogether.

5. A wall grille, comprising a grille core having a housing, saidhousing comprising a front frame having rearwardly projecting sidemembers with oisets adapted to engage the rear edge of said core, adamper device comprising end members having spaced apart rearwardlyextending projections, a number of spaced apart damper blades the endsof which are bent at right angles and cach having pivotal connections tosaid rearward projections, parallel bars pivotally connected to saiddamper ends on the opposite side from said other pivots, a leverattached to one of said blades and adapted to project through saidgrille whereby said blades may be manually operated and their positionobserved therefrom.

6. A grille n, having a number of spacer projections forming an integralpart thereof, comprising a narrow strip, a number of triangular in formspacer portions cut free from the body of said strip, saidout at oneside being parallel to the edges of said strip, said portion bent on aline at right angle to and extending at right angle from said iin.

7. A grille having a greater length than width, comprising a multipicityof closely spaced transversely positioned iin strips and a number ofhorizontally positioned sacers forming a rigid unitary structure, saidrin strips in parallel relation and positioned at varying angles wherebythe air passing therethrough will be discharged fanlike, said spacerscomprising portions cut free from said strips, one end being left intacton a line in direction of air flow, said freed portion extendingtransversely thereby to overlap the adf jacent spacers and being bondedthereto.

left fiat and overlapping the portions on the adjacent fin strips andbeing bonded thereto, whereby a number of spaced bars are formed by saidportions which are positioned edgewise to the direction of air iiow andwhereby said fin strips are secured one to another.

FRED M. YOUNG. LEON M. YOUNG.

